Goin to Town 1941

Jackson Lee Nesbitt’s print, “Goin’ to Town” offers a glimpse into a bygone era, where the world is rendered in careful gradations of blacks and whites. I imagine Nesbitt hunched over his plate, etching each line, each tiny dot, building up the image bit by bit. The scene depicts passengers riding into town; their faces reveal a mix of weariness, anticipation, and quiet contemplation. There’s a man holding a flower, its delicate petals a stark contrast to the rough textures of the world around him. What’s his story? Is he bringing the flower to someone special, or is it a memento of a moment passed? These characters evoke a sense of the everyday, but also a deeper sense of human emotion. Nesbitt’s work reminds us that the act of looking, whether as an artist or a viewer, is an active process. It's a way of making sense of the world, but also of finding beauty and meaning in the ordinary.